ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Government issuessugar-mill-wise stock holding limit order for March, 2019; Prescribes 24.5 LMT of white/refined sugar for domestic sale/dispatch
The Central Government with a view to manage the situation of surplus production in the country and to stabilize the sugar prices with a view to clear cane price arrears of farmers has been implementing the Sugar Price  Order, 2018 along with imposition of stock holding limits on sugar mills.
In exercise of powers conferred by section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955  read with clause 4 and 5 of the Sugar  Order, 1966 and Order of the Government of India vide S.O. No.2347  dated 07.06.2018, the Central Government has been issuing stock holding order for every month since June, 2018, inter-alia, indicating therein the mill-wise quantity of white/ refined sugar prescribed for domestic sale/despatch for that particular month.
In the monthly stock holding limit order for the month of March, 2019 issued on 28.02.2019, 24.5 LMT of white/refined sugar has been prescribed for domestic sale/dispatch. This increase is attributable to various factors. There is a pattern of high sales/dispatches around this time of the year; during February, 2018 sales/dispatch of sugar were at 23.54 LMT. Besides, sugar industry has recently been advised to go for advance booking of sugar sales to bulk consumers. It is also to be noted that the Government has only recently increased the minimum selling price of sugar  from Rs. 29 to Rs. 31 /kg. The said increase is to provide an opportunity to mills to realise maximum revenue from sales at enhanced MSP to improve their liquidity to clear cane price arrears of farmers.
With the Sugar Price  Order, 2018 being in vogue, sugar mills cannot sell their sugar at ex-mill price which is below MSP and any violation of the same would attract severe penal action under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Hence, any apprehension about excess allocation of sugar for domestic sale under the stock holding limit order for the month of March, 2019 is unwarranted.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
NYKS to reach out to the Youth across the country on the new transformational Agnipath Scheme
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan  will reach out to the youth across the country in a mission mode to highlight the salient features of the new transformative reform ‘Agnipath Scheme’ and to popularize it among the youth.
A meeting in this regard was held by Secretary, Youth Affairs Shri Sanjay Kumar with the Regional Directors, State Directors, Deputy Directors and District Youth Officers of NYKS on 16th June, 2022 virtually to take necessary steps for outreach of the scheme.
The salient features of the scheme and its benefits along with other details were underlined during the meeting. It was emphasised that NYKS, besides its field officials, will rope in all the grassroot level youth belonging to the Youth Clubs or otherwise and all other stakeholders to disseminate information about this transformational scheme, and amplify the message among large number of people particularly among the youth between the age group of 17.5 years to 21 years i.e. potential applicants.
To achieve this goal of reaching out to maximum number of citizens and as a part of strategy, extensive use will be made of personal and peer contact, bulk messaging through Telephone/Whatsapp and usage of social media platforms, Door to Door contact and by using the platforms of ongoing programmes of NYKS.
The grassroot machinery of NYKS has been asked to mobilize maximum youth volunteers to facilitate this outreach programme.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Arsenic and Heavy Metals in Ground Water
Central Ground Water Board  generates ground water quality data of the country on a regional scale as part of its ground water quality monitoring activity. The monitoring indicates the occurrence of contaminants such as Flouride, Arsenic, Nitrate, Iron and Heavy Metals beyond permissible limits  for human consumption in isolated pockets in various States / UTs.
No specific information on the matter is available. However, it is stated that consuming water with contaminants beyond BIS limits may have some adverse health effects.
Water being State subject, initiatives on water management including taking corrective action related to ground water quality in the country is primarily States’ responsibility. However, Central Pollution Control Board  in association with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees  is implementing the provisions of The Water  Act, 1974 & The Environment  Act, 1986 to prevent and control pollution.
Government of India in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission  since August, 2019 to provide potable tap water supply of prescribed quality to every rural household in the country by 2024. Under JJM, while planning water supply schemes to provide tap water supply to households, priority is given to quality–affected habitations. While allocating the funds to States/ UTs in a particular financial year, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants including Arsenic and Fluoride, as on 31st March of the preceding Financial Year.
Since, planning, implementation and commissioning of piped water supply schemes based on a safe water source likely to take time, States/ UTs have been advised to install community water purification plants  in such habitations, purely as an interim measure, to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8–10 litre per capita per day to meet their drinking and cooking requirements.
Under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation  launched on 25th June, 2015 in selected 500 cities with focus on development of urban infrastructure in various sectors including water supply, States/UTs have the option to take projects on special water supply arrangements for difficult areas, hill and coastal cities, including those having water quality problems with Arsenic, Fluoride etc.
CGWB has constructed several exploratory and observation wells in the Country tapping the Arsenic safe deeper aquifer zones delineated through exploration aided detailed aquifer mapping under National Aquifer Mapping programme. Successful wells have been handed over to the State Governments for their purposeful utilization. Further, CGWB is providing technical assistance to the States by sharing the cement sealing technology for tapping contamination free aquifers in Gangetic flood plains.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Rattan Lal Kataria in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Centre sells 1.66 LMT wheat and 0.17 LMT rice through Open Market Sale Scheme  in e-auction held recently
Reduction in retail price is targeted in the e-auctions to encourage small and marginal end users along with their maximum participation
As a part of Government of India initiative for market intervention to control the retail price of rice, wheat and atta, weekly e auctions of both wheat and rice are organized. The 11th e-auction of 2023-24 was held on 06.09.2023. A quantity of 2.0 LMT wheat from 500 depots and 4.89 LMT rice from 337 depots were offered from across the country.
In the e-auction, 1.66 LMT wheat and 0.17 LMT rice was sold. The weighted average selling price was Rs. 2169.65/qtl for FAQ wheat against the reserve price of Rs. 2150/qtl Pan India whereas weighted average selling price of URS wheat was Rs. 2150.86/qtl against the reserve price of Rs. 2125/qtl.
The weighted average selling price was Rs. 2956.19/qtl for rice against the reserve price of Rs. 2952.27/qtl Pan India.
In the current tranche of e-auctions, the reduction in retail price is being targeted by offering up to 100 tons maximum for a buyer for wheat and 1000 tons for rice. This decision is to encourage small and marginal end users and to ensure that more participants could come forward and bid for the quantity from their depot of choice.
In order to avoid hoarding of stocks traders were kept out from the ambit of wheat sale under OMSS  and regular checks/inspections are being made at the Flour Mills of the processors who have purchased wheat under OMSS . Till 05.09.23 898 checks across the country have been made.
Ministry of Finance
Providing access to safe and adequate drinking water to all Indians is a priority of the Government
Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure HarGharJal  to all rural households by 2024
New Ministry-“Jal Shakti Mantralaya” to manage water resources and water supply in an integrated and holistic manner with the State Governments
The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said that ensuring India’s water security and providing access to safe and adequate drinking water to all Indians is a priority of the Government. While, presenting the Union Budget 2019-20 in the Parliament today, Smt. Sitharaman said that a major step in this direction has been the constitution of the Jal Shakti Mantralaya, integrating the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. This new Mantralaya will look at the management of our water resources and water supply in an integrated and holistic manner, and will work with States to ensure HarGharJal हर घर जल–  to all rural households by 2024 under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
This Mission, under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, will focus on integrated demand and supply side management of water at the local level, including creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse in agriculture. The Jal Jeevan Mission will converge with other Central and State Government Schemes to achieve its objectives of sustainable water supply management across the country.
The Finance Minister informed that government has identified 1592 Blocks which are critical and over exploited, spread across 256 Districts for the Jal Shakti Abhiyan. Besides using funds available under various Schemes, the Government will also explore possibility of using additional funds available under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority  for this purpose.
Ministry of Defence
ECHS
Unmarried daughter of a retired Defence Officer is entitled to ECHS facilities as a dependent irrespective of age subject to the condition that she is not earning more than Rs.9000/- per month excluding DA. On the demise of the Defence Officer while his spouse is entitled to family pension, the daughter continues to avail the same facility subject of the aforesaid condition.
In case of demise of both parents, unmarried daughter is entitled to Family Pension and also ECHS membership.
An unmarried daughter of a retired defence officer can apply ECHS card after death of the parents under the following conditions:-
- She is/was a dependent.
- Not earning more than Rs 9000/- per month excluding DA.
This information was tabled in a written reply by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik to a question asked by Shri Sridhar Kotagiri in Lok Sabha today.
Nampi/DK/Savvy/ADA
(Visitor Counter : 323
Ministry of Defence
DRDO Signs Technology Development Contract with Rosoboronexport Russia
 is the DRDO laboratory working in the development of spectrum of high energy materials required for missiles, rockets and guns.
CAPTION: From Left to Right: Atul Rane, Ivan Shalaev, KPS Murthy, Ivan Kanishchev, Alexander A Mikheev, Dr G Satheesh Reddy
During DefExpo 2020, HEMRL, Pune signed technology development contract with Rosoboronexport, Russia for development of Advanced Pyrotechnic Ignition Systems.
Director HEMRL Shri. KPS Murthy informed that this will enable advancement in the field of energetic materials and pyrotechnic technology leading to the development of advanced ignition systems. This will meet futuristic requirements of high-performance propulsion systems. He added that the propulsion systems are the power behind the rockets and missiles. This technology development will facilitate design and development of state of art solid rocket motors for upcoming products. These products will be based on compact and energy efficient propulsion systems.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID 19 Vaccination-Day 105
More than 26 lakh vaccine doses given till 8 pm push Cumulative Vaccine Coverage to more than 15.48 Cr doses
The total vaccination across the country has crossed more than 15.48 Cr mark. The country has administered more than 26 lakh vaccine doses till 8 pm today.
The cumulative number of COVID19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 15,48,54,096 as per the 8 pm provisional report today.
These include 94,10,892 Healthcare Workers  who have taken the 1st dose and
62,40,077 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 1,25,48,925 Frontline Workers  , 68,11,824 FLWs , 5,26,53,077 for over 45 years old to 60 years old , 37,59,948 for over 45 years old to 60 years old , 5,23,51,313 for above 60 years  and 1,10,78,040 for above 60 years .
|
|
HCWs
|
|
FLWs
|
|
Age Group 45-60 years
|
|
Above 60 Years
|
|
Total Achievement
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
94,10,892
|
|
62,40,077
|
|
1,25,48,925
|
|
68,11,824
|
|
5,26,53,077
|
|
37,59,948
|
|
5,23,51,313
|
|
1,10,78,040
|
|
12,69,64,207
|
|
2,78,89,889
Total 26,08,948 vaccine doses were given till 8 pm today, the One hundred and fifth day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination. Out of which 14,77,309 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 11,31,639 beneficiaries received 2nd dose of the vaccine as per the provisional report. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight.
|
|
Date: 30th April 2021 
|
|
HCWs
|
|
FLWs
|
|
Age Group 45-60 years
|
|
Above 60
Years
|
|
Total Achievement
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
24,007
|
|
48,959
|
|
1,28,972
|
|
1,03,962
|
|
8,74,235
|
|
3,42,037
|
|
4,50,095
|
|
6,36,681
|
|
14,77,309
|
|
11,31,639
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
220.45 cr Total Vaccine doses  have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
5,28,257 doses administered in last 24 hours
India's Active caseload currently stands at 1,848
Active cases stand at 0.01%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.81%
74 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 4,41,50,131
80 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
91.53 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 71,399 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 191.37 Cr
Over 3.17Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at17,317
2,202new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.74%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 0.59%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 191.37 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,39,49,544sessions.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 3.17 Cr  adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April, 2022 onwards.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,04,06,147
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,00,29,746
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
50,27,111
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,84,17,641
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,75,65,439
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
81,79,298
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
3,17,89,795
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,21,55,960
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
5,89,78,602
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
4,40,29,617
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
55,65,94,309
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
48,48,08,812
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
4,20,633
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
20,31,42,059
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
18,96,46,324
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
10,06,947
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
12,70,14,554
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
11,82,10,429
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
1,63,10,891
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
3,09,44,880
|
|
Total
|
|
1,91,37,34,314
India’s Active Caseload currently stands at17,317.Active cases now constitute 0.04% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.74%. 2,550patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,25,82,243.
2,202new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 2,97,242COVID-19tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 84.41Cr  cumulative tests.
Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 0.59% and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 0.74%.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Secretary, Agriculture addresses Conference on ‘Scope of Public-Private Partnership in Agriculture'
The Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India in association with Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry organized a conference on 'Scope of Public Private Partnership in Agriculture’ in New Delhi today.
Shri, Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India delivered the Keynote address on Government’s expectations from Industry, focussing on incorporation of the private sector expectation in the formulation of architectural framework for sector development, shared understanding, knowledge & resources for overall development.
In her address Smt N. Vijayalakshmi, JS  laid emphasis on strengthening the four I’s namely Inputs, Infrastructure, Investments and Institutions for developing a conducive ecosystem for PPP projects in Agriculture.
Shri Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary , Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare mentioned about de-risking of agriculture and stressed the need for developing scalable, viable and replicable business models while leveraging the strengths of public and private sectors to have a “win-win” situation.
Shri Pravesh Sharma, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on FPOs, in his address referred to the need for developing synergy between government and private players for a focused approach for investments towards Technology, Capital and Market Linkage.
Several Industry experts highlighted the various gaps such as ‘Knowledge gaps to farmers, lack of basic infrastructure, quality of Inputs etc as the major areas of concern. Some of them also highlighted the issue of Ministries/Departments and stakeholders working in silos.
The session on States perspective on PPP in Agriculture was chaired by Shri Samuel Praveen Kumar and moderated by Shri Hemendra Mathur, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Start-ups.
States pointed out issues like need for Farm gate Infrastructure for Grading, Sorting and primary processing of produce to reduce Post harvest losses, logistic services to work in sync with the producers, Infrastructure to meet export requirements, Open network to collect data directly for the farmers & Knowledge distribution.
The consultation was attended by more than 100 participants comprising of diverse stakeholders including state government representatives, Agritech start-ups, Private sector players, FPO members, Agri industry experts & Investors.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Children and students can visit National Museum of Indian Cinema for free
NMIC to have daily screening from 4 PM - 5 PM, on Indian films and filmmakers
The National Museum of Indian Cinema, at Films Division Complex, Peddar Road, Mumbai, inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 19th January, 2019, has been opened to the public from 20th January, 2019.
The Museum has been open to the public, from Tuesday – Sunday, from 11 AM to 6 PM, and will remain closed on Mondays and Public Holidays.
The ticket price for the Museum, effective from 1st February, 2019, will be as follows:
|Children & Students
||Free
|
|Adults
||Rs.20/-
|
|Foreigners
||Rs. 500/-
|
Parking is available at the Films Division Complex.
There will be a daily film screening too from 4 PM - 5 PM, curated by Films Division on different facets of Indian Films and Film Makers. The film screening will start from Monday, 28th January, 2019.
The Museum is housed in two buildings – the New Museum Building and the historic palace Gulshan Mahal – both at the Films Division campus in Mumbai. The Museum showcases history of India Cinema and has ample digital elements including kiosks, interactive digital screens and information-based screen interfaces.
It will an enriching experience to students, cinema lovers & scholars.
Also read:
Cabinet
Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding between India and Fiji for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding  between the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare of the Republic of India and Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Fiji for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
The MoU between India and Fiji provides for cooperation in the following areas:
- Exchange of research personnel, scientific experts, specialists, and technical trainees;
- Enhancement and transfer of technology;
- Development of infrastructure for agriculture development;
- Development of human resources through training of officers and farmers by conducting seminars and workshops;
- Promotion of joint ventures between private sectors of both countries;
- Promotion of investment in marketing and value addition/downstream processing of agricultural commodities;
- Promote capacity development in all areas of agriculture;
- Promotion of direct trade of agriculture products through market access;
- Joint planning and development of research proposals and execution of research projects and programmes;
- Establishment of Indo - Fiji Working Group for dealing phytosanitary issues, and any other form of cooperation which will be mutually agreed by the Parties.
Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group  will be constituted to set down procedures and plan and recommend programs of cooperation towards achieving its aims through the Executing agencies of the two countries. The JWG will hold its meeting alternately in India and Fiji once in every two year.
This MoU will come into effect on the date of its signing and will remain in force for a period of 5 years.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Northeast powers Prasar Bharati’s Digital Growth
Prasar Bharati’s digital network has carved out a niche in the Indian digital media industry by focussing on inclusive growth, instead of just revenue driven growth. Serving the mandate of the public broadcaster even in the digital world, Prasar Bharati’s digital platforms in the remotest areas of Northeast have registered significant milestones by together clocking more than 220 Million Views and 1 Million+ Subscribers on YouTube.
In one such recent landmark achievement, YouTube channel of Doordarshan Aizawl has crossed 1 Lakh subscribers. These growths in Views and Subscribers base are fuelled by top quality content in the genres of Teleplays, Telefilms and Films.
Multiple Twitter handles of Doordarshan and All India Radio across Northeast region have followers in Thousands. Many have blue tick verification from Twitter.
YouTube News channels of DD Mizoram, DD Guwahati, DD Shillong and All India Radio Northeast service have quite sizeable Subscribers base, with DD News Mizoram leading the pack.
Most of these Northeast channels of Prasar Bharati have digital views and watch time hours in Millions, wherein Doordarshan and All India Radio channels of Manipur top the charts.